U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District marks history as it breaks ground on new headquarters

Col. Bryan S. Green (5th from left), commander and engineer of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District and Republic of Korea Brig. Gen. Kang Chang-koo (5th from right), Director General of Program Management, Ministry of Defense United States Forces Korea Relocation Office are joined by other dignitaries as they break ground on the district's headquarters building.

Col. Bryan S. Green (5th from left), commander and engineer of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Far East District and Republic of Korea Brig. Gen. Kang Chang-koo (5th from right), Director General of Program Management, Ministry of Defense United States Forces Korea Relocation Office are joined by other dignitaries as they break ground on the district's headquarters building.

Construction on the future United States Army Corps of Engineers Far East District headquarters building began as ground was ceremonially broken June 20 on land adjacent to U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys. The building will offer a central location for district employees to provide the day to day administrative, construction and engineering services in the Republic of Korea.

"I think it's historic that we have broken ground on a brand new headquarters building that will be completed around the time the district celebrates its 60th birthday," said Col. Bryan S. Green, district engineer and commander.

Brig. Gen. Kang, Chang-koo, Director General of Program Management, Ministry of Defense United States Forces Korea Relocation Office, said the teamwork between the district and MURO since the Land Partnership and Yongsan Relocation Plan agreements were signed in 2004 has been excellent.

"Many challenges, big and small, lie ahead of us, but I'm not worried because we as a team are strong enough to accomplish the mission," said Kang. "Thanks to our partnership the Yongsan Relocation Plan is now [well underway]."

At the ceremony a three-person shovel, used in construction in the mid- to late-20th century in Korea, symbolized the close partnership between the Far East District and its Korean partners.

"One of the first pictures taken in district history in 1957 was of three Koreans from [contracting firm] Daelim [Industrial] operating a three-person shovel," said Green.

Representatives from Daelim, which will build the new facility, United States Forces Korea Base Relocation Project Management Office, and Korea Land and Housing Corporation joined Green to mark the occasion and help bury a time capsule, which will be opened at the building's ribbon cutting.

"We used a piece of the past to bury a guest book filled with messages to welcome the future residents of the building," said Green.